Seed-planter.



PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904'. R. M. HOOD.

SEED PLANTERJ APPLICATION FILED KAY 27, 190 4.

-2 SHEETS-S11E11 1.

N0 110mm,.

Attornegs .Wih vess es i PATENTED- SEPT. 6, 1904 .E. HOOD.

SEED PLANTER.

I APPLICATION FILED MAYZ'Y 1904.'

2 sEEETs-SEEET 2.

NO' MODEL. g

, mmmm Httomegs Patented September 6, 1904.

' tlglUmrljn STATEs PATENT QFFTCR'.

ROBERT M. HOOD, OF FORT MILL, souTH GAROL1NA,ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO OSCAR w. POTTS, or FORT'MILL, soUTH CAROLINA.

SEED-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,345, dated September 6, 1904.

' Application iiiet. May 27, 1904. Serial No. 210,089. (No model.) I

To (all-whom, it may concern.- I

Be it known that 1, ROBERT M. Hoon, a citi Zen of the United'Statejs, residing at Fort Mil-l, in the county of York and State of South Caro lina, have invented a new and useful Seed- Planter, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of seed-v planters which are generally and preferably used for the purpose of planting corn, but which may by a slight change be adapted to the purpose of planting or depositing cotton and other seeds.

The inventionha's for its object to provide a device of the class referredto whichshall possess superior advantages 1n point of sunplicity, durability, and general efficiency, in which the seed-dropping mechanism may be I conveniently thrown into or out of gear, as

may be required, in which the frame construction shall be simple, convenient, and inexpensive, and in which the seeding mechanism shall be simple, efficient, and durable.

. With these and other ends in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists inthe improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and partieularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been In said drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a seed-planter constructed in accord 'ance. with the principles of the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan view. Fig. 4: is

a vertical sectional view taken transversely through the hopper and seeding mechanism. Fig. 5 is a perspective detail View of the ground-wheel-cleaning plate and related parts,

and 6 is a detail view illustrating a modi- 5 fied construction of the seed-disk. Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated by similar numerals of reference.

The frame of the improved machine is composed, essentially, of two side bars 1 1, which are preferably made of iron and which conconverge' in the direction of each other near their front ends, as shown at 2 2, said converging portions being provided attheir forward extremities with extensions 3 3, which. are spaced apart by a flanged block 4, having an upward extension 5, provided with a plurality of perforations 6 for the attachment of the draft. Said block is also suitably connected with the upper end of the furrowopener 7, the lower part of which is connected with the shoe 8 of the seed-tube 9, which ex tends upwardly, as shown;

The side beams 1 1 support between them a plate or casting 10, which rests on top of said 7 side beams and which is .provided with the downwardly-extending lugs 11 for the recep tion of bolts 12, whereby said plate is securely mounted in position, serving the additional purpose of properly spacing the side bars of the frame apart. .The plate 10 is provided at its front and rear ends with upwardly-extending segmental plates 13 and 14, and said plate also has an upwardly-extending centrally-disposed bolt 15, supporting the seeddisk, which bolt in the form of embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings has been shown as extending upwardly froin a diametrical arm 16, which extends below an opening 17 in said plate. the seed-disk 18, which is. mounted rotatably upon the bolt 15 and which is guarded by the upwardly extending segmental plates or flanges 13 and 1a, with which the perimeter of said seed-disk is in contact. 18 is a circular plate or casting having an upwardly-extending annular flange 19 spaced a short distance from the edge or perimeter thereof, the portion of the disk outside of said flange being provided with ratchet-teeth 20 of suitable length. In radial alinernent with the ratchet-teeth 20, but disposed adjacent to the inner side of the flange, 19, are seed-cups 21,

The latter supports 8 5 The seed-disk 9 which consist of perforations of suitable diameter to contain the desired number of seeds to be planted at each operation. The seeddisk is provided with a centrally-disposed upwardly-extending boss 22, having a conical upper surface 23, which is placed in engagementwith a helical spring 24, coiled upon the bolt and forced in a downward direction with a degree of pressure which is capable of being regulated bymeans of a nut and washer 26. It will be seen that by this means the seed-plate is held in contact with the supporting-plate 10 with any desired degree of pressure which is mainly calculated to produce a degree of friction which shall be suificient to prevent the seed-plate from being accidentally displaced from any position to which it may be adjusted by the operating mechanism to be hereinafter described.

The plate 10 has a suitably-located perforation 27, which is in alinement with the seedcups 21 as the latter pass in succession above the same. With the under side of the seedplate 27 is connected the upper end of the seed-tube 9, thelower end of which terminates in the shoe 8, which forms a part of the furrow-opening device. In the accompanying drawings the seed-opening and the seed-tube have been shown located at the front end of the hopper; but I desire it to be distinctly understood that it may be located in any preferred positionsuch as, for instance, at the rear end of the hopper, the latter being a construction. whereby the implement might be considerably shortened if it should be found desirable to do so.-

28 designates the seed-hopper, which con sists of a sheet-metal cylinder fitted to the rim or flange 19 of the seed-disk and secured in position by means of blocks 29,'whereby it is spaced from the segmental plates or flanges 14 and by bolts 30, extending through said plates and blocks and through slots 31 in the wall of the cylinder. The latter, it will thus be seen, is practically suspended between the plates or flanges 13 and 14, and while a tight joint is formed between said cylinder and the seed-disk the latter is entirely capable of rotating freely. The ratchet-teeth 20, as will be readily noticed, extend beyond the exterior wall of the cylinder at the base or lower end of the latter, so as to be capable of being'engaged and actuated by a pawl provided for the purpose, as will be presently described. The hopper 28, as will be seen from the foregoing, is vertically adjustable by the bolts 30 engaging the slots 31. By this ad justment wear may be compensated for, so that the seed plate or disk shall be caused to run smoothly and evenly at all times. This adjustment is also useful for the purpose of enabling the parts of the device, including parts relating to the hopper and which are yet to be described, to be properly adjusted with relation to each other.

Suitably secured to the side members 1 1 of the frame are pendent boxes 32, affording bearings for a shaft 33, carrying a ground-engaging wheel 34 of ordinary construction, said wheel being preferably provided with a concave rim or tread for the purpose of compacting the soil about the seeds that have been deposited. Suitably formed upon or connected with one side or face of said wheel is a disk 35, the outer face of which has a plurality of recesses 36 for the reception of pins or tap pets 37, of which any desired number may be used, but which should preferably be spaced equidistan tl y apart in order to cause the planting operation to be performed at equal intervals, as will be presently understood. The box 32 upon the frame side adjacent to the disk is provided with an upwardly-extending bracket 38, which is preferably provided upon its outer side with a reinforcing-rib 39 and upon its inner side with a stop-lug 40. The bracket 38 is also provided near its upper end and upon its inner side with a lug 41, through which extends a bolt 42, said bolt extending through a perforation in an arm 43, which is mounted pivotally upon a pin 44, extending laterally in an inward direction from the upper end of the bracket 38. Upon the bolt 42 in front of the arm 43 is coiled a helical spring 45, which is retained by means of a washer 46 and a nut47. By this spring sufficient tension may be exerted to force the arm 43 with any desired degree of pressure in the direction of the bracket 38, its rearward movement being intercepted by the stop-lug 40, extending from said bracket. The arm 43 is provided on its front side near its lower end with a transversely-perforated lug 48 for the reception of a pin 49, carrying a pawl member 50, which by said pin is pivotally connected with the pivoted lug of the arm 43. The lower extremity of the latter is bent to form a V-shaped shoe 51, adapted to be engaged by the tappets 37 of the tappet-disk 35. It will be seen that the V-shaped shoe will be acted upon by the tappets whether the latter be moving in a forward or in an upward direction to actuate the pawl 50, which engages ratchets of the seed-disk. This is sometimes desirable, as when the machine is retracted for the purpose of dropping a charge of seed in a place where the mechanism of the machine for some reason has failed to deliver the charge.

For the purpose of throwing the actuating mechanism out of gear when desired a cam 52 is pivotally connected with the bracket 38. This cam has a rearwardly-extending arm 53, with which is connected an operating-rod 54, which terminates within convenient reach of the operator, who by pulling said rod may regulate the cam upon which it is pivoted, thus forcing the arm 43 in a forward direction against the tension of the spring and out of the path of the tappets. \Vhen the cam 52 is thus actuated, its forward portion will engage the upper portion of the stop-lug 40, where it will be securely retained until it shall be released by a pushing action exercised against the rearwardly-extending arm of the cam through the medium of the operating-rod 54.

Suitably secured, as by means of bolts 55, to the inner side of the cylindrical seed-hopper is a flange plate 56, having a bottom flange 5'7, which extends horizontally in such a manner as to cover several perforations of the seed-disk adjacent to the seed-opening through which the seed is to drop. Said plate 56 is also provided with a flange 58 at one side thereof, with which is adjustably connected a cut-ofi? 59, including a brush 60, which is for the purpose of preventing more than the desired quantity ofseed from pass ing through the seed-opening and the seedtube to the ground.

The rear-endsof the frame-bars 1 1 are connected by a rod 61, upon which is mounted a sleeve structure 62, carrying a blade 63, having a convex edge adapted to engage the rim of the ground-Wheel, so as to form ascraper orcleaner for the latter. One end of the sleeve 62 has a slot 64, through which extends an arm 65, which is mounted-upon the shaft 61 and which carries at its outer end a weight 66, by means of which the sleeve and shaft may be manipulated to set the blade or scraper 63 in or out of engagement-with the ground-wheel, thewe1ght 66 serving'to re' tainthe said blade in the desired position.

From the foregoing'description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this device willbe readily understood by thoseskilled in the art to which it appertains. The mechanism of this improved seed-planter is extremely simple, comprising only the side frame-bars, Which are connected at their front ends by the block 3, at an intermediate point by the plate 10, and at their rear ends by the rod 61'. Handles 67 are provided, which are securely bolted at theirlower front ends to the side pieces of the frame and which are supported in the proper position by means of braces 68, connecting them with the side pieces of the frame near the rear end of the latter, said braces being preferably mounted upon the ends of the rod or shaft 61. As the machine progresses over the ground motion is-trans-' mitted directly from the tappet-wheel, which is rigidly connected with the ground-wheel to the seeding mechanism, and the use of all cumbersome gearing, sprocket-wheels, chains,

and the like is entirely avoided. At each contact of one of the tappets with the shoe at the lower end of the arm or lever 43 the latter is operated to actuate the pawl member 50,

whereby the seed-disk is rotated the space of.

one tooth, and a charge of seed is consequently deposited inthe seed-tube and conveyed therethrough to the ground.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings has been illustrateda slight modification of the construction i which are formed adjacent to the seed-openings, so that the rear walls of the'latter shall. be higher than the front walls. This mode of construction is preferably employed when seeds other than cornsuch, for instance, as

I cotton-seeds--are to be planted, the object being to insure the passage of theseeds under the cut-off brush and their consequent 'dis-. charge into the seed-tube. this construction will also be found particularly useful when peas and various other seeds are to be planted. -I desire it, however, to be understood that my inventionis not limited to any particular form of seed-cups, but that the shape, size, and general outline. of said cups may be changed and altered in accordance with the kind of seeds'that are to be planted.

A seed-disk of of the seed-disk whereby the latter is pro-- vided with an annular series of slopes 69-,

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a seed-planter, a frame including a pair of parallel side bars, a spacing-plate mounted upon said. side bars and having a seedopening, a seed-tube secured to saidplate below the seed-opening,- a bolt extendlng upwardly from the plate,-a seed-disk'mounted rotatably upon said bolt-,spring means to insure frictional contact between the seed-disk and the supporting-plate, and an ad ustably supported hopper.

2. In a seed-' lanter, a supporting-plate having a seed-opening, a seed-disk mounted rotatably upon said plate, a seed-tube disposed below the opening of the supporting-plate, segmental flanges extending upwardly from,

the supporting-plate, and ahopper supported between and spaced from said flanges,

3. In a seed-planter, a supporting-plate. having a seed-opening and a downwardly-extending seed-tube, a seed-disk mounted rota' tablyupon said plate and having a plurality of seed-cups adapted to register with the said opening, segmental flanges extending upwardly from the supporting-plate, a hopper suspended between and spaced from said flanges and forming a tight jointwith them- 1 tary seed-disk, and means'foroperating the latter. v

4. In a seed-planter, having a seed-opening, a seed-disk mounted for rotation upon said plate and having a plurality of seed-cups and an upwardly-extending a supporting plate annular flange, segmental flanges extending upwardly from the supporting-plate, a hopper suspended between and spaced from said flanges and engagingthe annular flange upon the seed-disk, and means for imparting tothe latter an intermittent rotarymotion.--

In a seed planter, a supporting-plate:

having a seed-opening and provided with upwardly-extending.segmental flanges, a seeddisk mounted for rotation upon said plate andhaving a plurality of seed-cups and an upwardly-extending annular flange, a cylindrical hopper having its lower edge in engagement with said flange, and means for suspending the hopper between the segmental flanges of the supporting-plate.

6. In a seed-planter, a supporting-plate having a seed-opening, a seed-disk mounted for rotation upon said plate and having a plurality of seed-cups, annularly disposed, a plurality of ratchets upon the edge of its upper face in alinement with said seed-cups, and an upwardly extending flange between said ratchets and seed-cups, a hopper supported above the seed-disk and having a lower cylindrical edge in engagement with the flange of the latter, and means for suspending the hopper in operative position.

7. In a seed-planter, a supporting-plate having a seed-opening, a seed-disk mounted for rotation upon said plate and having a plurality of seed-cups and ratchetteeth, a vertically-adjustable hopper suspended above said seed-plate, a cut-off within said hopper, and means for imparting to the seed-disk an intermittent rotary motion.

8. In a seed-planter, a supporting-plate having a seed-opening, a seed-disk mounted for rotation upon said plate and having seedcups, ratchet-teeth and an upwardly-extending intermediate annular flange, a hopper suspended above said seed-disk and having a lower cylindrical edge engaging the flange of the seed-disk and a plate secured to the wall of the hopper and having a flange extending over the seed-disk to cover several of the seed-cups in the latter, and a cut-ofl-carrying side flange.

9. In a seed-planter, the combination of a base-plate having a seed-opening, a seed-disk mounted for rotation upon the same, a vertically-adjustable hopper suspended above the seed-disk, a plate secured to the wall of the hopper, said plate being provided with a bottom plate engaging the seed-disk, and a side flange disposed in an approximately vertical plane, and a cut-0H member including a brush secured to said side flange.

10. In a seed-planter, a frame, a rotary seed-disk having ratchet-teeth upon its upper face, boxes connected with the frame, a

ground-wheel-carrying axle journaled in said boxes, a bracket extending from one of said boxes and having a laterally-extending stoplug, and a laterally extending perforated bracket above said stop-lug, a lever connected pivotally with the upper end of the bracket, a bolt extending through the perforated lug of the latter and through the lever, a spring upon said bolt to force the lever in the direction of the stop-lug, a V-shaped shoe at the lower end of said lever, a rotary member having tappets adapted to engage the V-shaped shoe at the lower end of the latter, and a cam member connected pivotall y with the bracket and adapted to force the lever, against the tension of the spring, out of the path of the tappets.

11. In a device of the class described, a bracket, a spring-actuated lever connected pivotally therewith, a stop lug upon said bracket to limit the movement of the springactuated lever, and a cam member connected pivotally with the bracket, adapted to force the spring-actuated lever against the tension of the spring to retain it in inoperative position, said cam member being adapted to engage the stop-lug, and a connecting-rod for operating said cam member.

12. In a seed planter, a supporting-plate having a seed-opening, a seed-disk mounted for rotation upon said plate, segmental flanges extending upwardly from said plate, a hopper disposed above the rotary seed-disk and engaging an annular flange upon the latter, spacing-blocks interposed between said hopper and the segmental flanges, bolts extending through said hopper, spacing-blocks and flanges, a vibratory springpressed lever, means for operating the latter, a pawl connected with said lever and engaging ratchets upon the face of the seed-disk, and a keeper connected with the supporting-plate and with one of the hopper-supporting bolts, said keeper including the said pawl.

In testimony thatI claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses,

ROBERT M. H 001').

\Vitnesses:

T. D. FAULKNER, J T. J. HARRIs. 

